DAVAO CITY (MindaNews/24 June) — A convergence of peace advocates in Mindanao is set to offer a blueprint to the negotiating panels of both the government and the Moro rebels that will serve as a common peace platform.

The Mindanao Peace Weavers (MPW), a network of non-government organizations, academe, religious, human rights groups, peoples organizations and grassroots communities, will launch on Friday the document that contains the 14-point agenda before representatives of the peace panels. Continue reading »

Unlike other parts of the country, when you’d say “historic,” you’d see traces right on the streets of the place. But in Butuan, nothing “historic” would greet you as you enter the city or even some landmarks that would really prove why it should be called “Historic City of Butuan.”

Coming from Davao City, only the  familiar steel bridge and murky Agusan River would remind travelers that  they are already in Butuan City. Continue reading »

The news headline at GMA News’ website this morning struck me because it’s headline — i cannot remember the exact line — says that a bomb exlploded at a Catholic church in Cotabato City. But as I went throught the entire article, the blast went off  across the cathedral. The explosion killed four persons dead while 27 others were also injured. Continue reading »

Photos: AKP Images / Keith Bacongco | Music: Kapayapaan by Tropical Depression

DATU PIANG, Maguindanao – What would have taken only a few minutes to negotiate the 14-kilometer stretch from the Cotabato-General Santos highway to Datu Piang in Maguindanao took more than an hour as thousands of evacuees and residents lined the road chanting “MOA-AD,” raising messages written down on manila paper, sack and plywood, demanding government to “respect, implement, sign and support” the MOA-AD (Froilan Gallardo / Mindanews) . read more